Thousand of pages will be written by political scientists analyzing the 2016 elections, and why and how Hillary Clinton lost a race that polls predicted she would win. There will be as many explanations as there are people who research the subject.

Here is my opinion—not substantiated by any research, just from my gut. Take it for whatever it is worth.

I think Michele Obama gave Clinton the wrong advice when she said, “When they go low, you go high.”

Watching the debates my muscles tightened. I was ready to throw up. Donald Trump was bullying Clinton and she was taking it lying down. He said, for instance, that Putin does not respect her. What evidence of that did he have whatsoever? He said she is the most—and pay attention to the extreme language he used—the most corrupt politician ever. Where is the evidence? He accused her of being a criminal. This is America and a person is innocent until proven guilty. She was neither proven guilty nor even charged. So where is this accusation coming from?

She took it lying down.

As we know from Joseph Goebbels, the Nazi propagandist, if you repeat a lie long enough people will believe it. I think many Democrats did not go to vote because they could not vote for Trump and, with her character assassinated, Hillary was not an alternative either. So they stayed home. And Trump won.

Watching the campaign, I noticed that Trump’s supporters were energized. There was tension in the air. Clinton’s audience was subdued. There was no energy that I could detect.

His slogan—“Make America Great Again”—spoke to people. It meant something. It was a goal to aim for. Everyone could interpret what “great again” meant and get excited about it. Her rallying message, “Stronger Together,” has been used by many politicians before. It is old—a “so what?” message.

Yes, Clinton is a woman. True, she did not stand up to Bill when he was unfaithful. And she did not react like most human beings would when being put down and stepped on. She was too civilized. You can step on her and she takes it.

That exactly is how America behaves in foreign relations: We support the world, and the world (except Israel) hates us. We take their hatred lying down. So, in a sense, Clinton was the personification of what is wrong with America.

Trump projected strength: no bull, no fear, strength we all want to see in our country. In the difficult times America is facing, people look for someone strong, not a doormat.

I suspect you’re right, that the ‘high road’ came cross as weak, passive,too nice, even elitist, and’ turn the other cheek’ wasn’t the way to smack Trump down. We’re commenting post hoc, of course. Trump is a bigot, a bully, sexist, racist, you name it, and to see his success for this office is deeply troubling.His following bought what he was selling. I voted for Hillary and only hope he will quickly disappoint those who voted for him, hoping for working class change and help for their pain.

Dr. Adizes: I’ve been your fan and follower for more than 35 years. (Your book, Corporate Life Cycles, was a game-changer of my work and career.) I’ve been following your comments/observations/ponderings for years and your recent posts re: the elections have made more sense to me than all others to date. I wish they offered a more optimistic view of the U.S. going forward; however, a more optimistic view would be inconsistent with your philosophy and belief, not to mention reality. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and observations. They are a breath of fresh air for anyone who is educated, thoughtful, observant, and still believes in using one’s brain, instead of indulging one’s emotions. Wishing you a good holiday season.

In my estimation, Hillary’s willingness to be put down by Trump could be interpreted as an admission of guilt. If for nothing more than being a part of our damaged, inbred government. New blood is necessary to reestablish a government for the people not the politicians. Whether President Trump succeeds remains to be seen.

I think this is accurate. I’d like to add the the DNC didn’t help her any. The vast majority of Americans clearly want change, not more of the same. The Dems pushed Hillary, who is the establishment candidate, supported by Wall Street – obviously 4 more years of the same – and the last 8 weren’t good for many people. Trump will change things.
Research shows people are irrationally adverse to loss. Clinton looks like a sure loss for many working people. Trump is a chance for something different so it’s like playing the lottery; you might loose or you could gain. Many people can’t make themselves select a sure loss, so they either freeze (no vote) or take the gamble (on Trump).

I disagree re Clinton’s innocence. Even if she is not charged, there is no way to explain her private server, and deleting ten of thousands of her e-mails. What was the harm in submitting her so called Yoga and her daughter marriage emails, unless,in reality, they were incriminating e-mails related to her so called not for profit fund that she did not want to close, no matter what. Add to it her deplorable handling of the Bengazzi attack that caused the death of four Americans, lying to their families, and you know why Clinton ‘s voters lacked enthusiasm and did not vote. Result: a monster was elected president.

Dr. Adizes, My sensibilities flow with your words. Scott Adams the Dilbert cartoon creator wrote an article in the Washington Post about Trump’s powers of persuasion. He predicted a Trump victory after switching his endorsement from Hilary to Trump. As Adams puts it, “Trump is a master persuader”. Adams believes that Trump would have won even running as a Democrat because he appeals to the “alpha” instincts in people and has this hypnotic thing. Your words reflect the similar sentiment, i.e., strong, no bull, no fear explaining Trump.

I could have voted for Trump, the change agent, the alpha, except for his divisive campaign tactics & rhetoric. He so overtly pandered to the most debased parts of the body politic by keeping the “birther” notion alive; my choice to vote for Hilary was made easy. I get it; he may be a change agent with Arsonist tendencies. Nevertheless, the man personally offended me!

You still do not get it , and most liberals still don’t get it . Those of us who work , have some kind of principles , believe in America have had enough of corruption and plain stupidity when it comes to policies being forced upon us . I had the greatest respect for you until now . We voted for trump well aware of his flaws , but anyone but the corrupt low class Clinton ! You hav the audacity to say they took the high road ,,when the very opposite is the truth. I think it’s time for you to retire , and really think very shortly you will be seen for the fool you are for your comments on this . Take a break ,

Again, Clinton=corruption. She stated that at the end of her husband’s presidency, they were broke (hmm, on a salary of $400K a year). Now she is worth $100 millions. What product or service did she produce to warrant such profit? I could not discern any.

I’m surprised, too: Clinton Cash has never been refuted, look at the CGI-FOUNDATION 990 (on their website) to ‘calculate’ a charitable intent at 6%, and the obsession of Hillary to avoid a FOIA inquiry.
BUT, a crown Jewell: she’s NOT a supporter of Israel. How can you vote against the only rational oasis in the Middle East?
Sounds like you’re supporting the WitchHunter over the Arsonist.
PA– over P-E-?????

I will try to make this simple. Hillary lost because a few more people in more states voted for Trump than for Hillary.

Why did they vote for Trump? Because 1. whether you agree with the right to abortion or not, killing a near-born child is hideous. 2. Many of us want the supreme court to follow and not change – either left or right – the constitution to say whatever they happen to want it to be. 3. We want our elected officials and government services to keep the law not break the law – regardless of whether we happen to like the law or not 4. Many of us – rich and poor – believe the best way to stimulate the economy is cutting taxes period. And we prefer to choose for ourselves how to spend our money and not have government spending our money for us … and we – those lower than the middle class like myself – don’t want government handouts!! 4. Apart from recent refugee developments in the EU, every other country in the world – even western countries – will not allow people into much less stay in their country unless they do so legally. 5. We want a government that will try to defeat terrorism not excuse it. There is only one of the two party platforms that even comes close to our point of view.

Why were Trump voters so energized?
Because 1. the FBI director publicly stated what Hillary did – for any other citizen this would be considered a crime – a vote for Hillary was a vote to accept and institutionalize corruption – one day we will have a female as president – but we don’t want Hillary. 2. Trump may be vulgar and brash but we know that he is NOT “whatever-phobic” and we are tired of the media and pundits constant bizarre demonization of the man and his supporters and we are sick of the childish name calling – we aren’t racist. 3. The electorate can think for themselves without the media telling us who we are supposed to vote for.

The absurdity of your article is that you STILL assume that Hillary SHOULD have won and you are trying to find a way to explain to your own mind what went “wrong”. It’s your assumption that is wrong. Those who voted for Trump do NOT want many of Obama’s policies and we were more motivated to get out and vote because of the ridiculous one-sided commentary offered by yourself and the mainstream media … everyone says trump was the clown and sideshow – for me, the media were the clowns who turned the election into a sideshow. Some of us voted on the issues … get it yet?

This is a respectful reply to some of the previous comments, underlining respectful. Those who can’t be respectful should retire themselves, at the minimum from this blog. The title of Ichak’s brief article was not “Why I voted for Clinton” or “Why you should have voted for Clinton”. He is only proposing his thesis for why Clinton lost. No one will know for sure what the election’s outcome would be had she not fallen in Trump’s trap, but I also feel most likely she would have won, given the thin margin by which she lost the key states. Let’s debate Ichak’s thesis and nothing else.

If you knew that Clinton was the personification and extension of what is wrong with America, and that Trump projected exactly what America is needing, then why did you vote for Clinton? And why is it too bad she lost?

“So, in a sense, Clinton was the personification of what is wrong with America.

Trump projected strength: no bull, no fear, strength we all want to see in our country. In the difficult times America is facing, people look for someone strong, not a doormat.

I am horrified that anybody could take Trump seriously. He is just a spoiled rich kid who thinks he can treat women as trash, Hispanics as rapists, and blacks as hopeless creatures in obscure slums, and be elected. Unfortunately, that is exactly what happened.
Still, Hillary, Bill, and her daughter are corrupt.

“That exactly is how America behaves in foreign relations: We support the world, and the world (except Israel) hates us. ”
I am not sure that people in Libya and Sirya will agree with this opinion. As well as Hillary Clinton is peaceful and helpless victim of angry Trump. They are two of a kind.

Dr. Adizes, I would hate to match wits with such bright a man as you, but I–along with so many in these responses–think your perspective has been colored by prestige and environment. The Trump vote has been painted as a support for Trump. But that is far from true, or didn’t you notice the post-primary appall? The opposite is true–as explained by John Solieau above. Our vote was not for Trump but against the totally corrupt establishment wrapped up in a 3rd Clinton presidency. Third party candidates were tempting to us all, but the lawless character which Clinton breathes and breeds made the immoral peccadillos and lack of class in Trump a choice we had to make. We don’t like Trump any more than we like Biden. We’re not blind to the shortfalls of a Trump Presidency, but at least we escaped the chains and continued Leftist-inspired wholesale impoverishing of America from the Obama/Clinton camps! May she and her like never return. P.S.: Republicans weren’t alone as 3 Million Dems had enough of Hilary’s crooked ways in the Primary. Count those as abstinence votes against Hillary by her own party.

Services

Let’s connect

Please note:

The insights presented in these blogs are the personal insight of Dr. Ichak Kalderon Adizes and do not necessarily express the opinion or position of the Adizes Institute or its staff individually or as a group.

DISCLAIMER: The insights presented in these blogs are the personal insight of Dr. Ichak Kalderon Adizes and do not necessarily express the opinion or position of the Adizes Institute or its staff individually or as a group.